EVENTS IN JULY 2002
The Water Directorate is a voluntary association of councils and county councils that operate water and/or sewer businesses in regional NSW. Our monthly newsletter seeks to inform member councils and all sectors of the NSW Local Government Water Industry of the developments that have taken place regarding technical issues and networking during July 2002 and of coming events. This newsletter is mailed out to General Managers and to Water and Sewer Managers in 121 regional councils in NSW and also to approximately 100 contacts in government departments, councils and private industry across Australia.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT (MISCELLANEOUS) ACT 2002
As previously mentioned in the June newsletter, the Local Government Act 1993 was amended to permit local government officers to inspect and maintain water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage infrastructure. The Local Government Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2002 was gazetted on Friday 26 July and will commence from 1 August 2002.

Whilst the new Act addresses a range of miscellaneous issues, the important clause for Water Directorate members is the restoration of the power of entry to local government. This means that the creation of easements for existing water and sewerage infrastructure on private property will no longer be necessary. This is a major victory and is estimated to save local government around $1.3 million in easement related costs. However, easements should still be obtained for new works, particularly subdivisions, and also where your council considers it a prudent risk management strategy.

Currently, the Water Directorate is preparing a report on the new Act with a view to clarifying the implications of the new legislation. This advice will be circulated to member councils by the end of August 2002. If councils have any questions or concerns please forward these to Gary Mitchell on garymi@bigpond.com they can be included the review.

CUTTING AND DISPOSAL OF ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE
Another new project being undertaken by the Water Directorate is collating the information received regarding the cutting and disposal of asbestos cement pipe. A large number of councils responded to Gunnedah Shire Council's request for information with a range of comments and procedures. Many thanks to those councils that responded at short notice. A consultant will be organised to put this information together as a best practice document in the near future.

PRESSURE SEWERAGE SYSTEM STANDARDS
Cary Reynolds, in conjunction with Wagga Wagga City Council, has produced a set of draft Standards on Pressure Sewerage Systems. These Standards ares the result of a workshop held in Wagga earlier in the year to discuss Pressure Sewerage Systems. Copies of the draft Standards will be mailed to member councils and other interested parties early in August 2002. Comments and feedback are welcome and should be addressed to Gary Mitchell on garymi@bigpond.com.

O&M MANUAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS
The fourth workshop was held in Tamworth in July with good feedback received from all 25 attendees. The workshops are designed to assist staff to develop O&M Manuals for various types of infrastructure. More importantly, the workshops are also particularly useful for the development of all Work Method Statements, particularly since the NSW WorkCover deadline for these WMSs is 1 September 2002.

An additional one day workshop will be held in Sydney on Friday 23 August 2002 for all council staff who previously missed out. Numbers are limited to 15 attendees so please register early. The structure of the workshop has been shuffled to fit all the content into the one day. As a result, a site tour will not be conducted as part of this workshop. To register your interest contact the Water Directorate on (02) 8267 3009.

O&M MANUAL FOR WATER PUMPING STATIONS (including River Offtakes, Bores and Inline Booster Installations)
The O&M Manual for Water Pumping Stations (including River Offtakes, Bores and Inline Booster Installations) is due to be released in August and is the final O&M Manual to be developed in the current series. Seven O&M Manuals have been developed for the Water Directorate by Albury Water over the past 20 months. Further manuals will be considered by the Executive Committee and your suggestions are welcome. Additional copies of the Manuals can be purchased from (02) 8267 3009 or on garymi@bigpond.com

COPPER SULPHATE
In May, a teleconference was held between members of the Water Directorate's Water Subcommittee and representatives of NSW EPA to discuss the approval of copper sulphate for use as an algicide in drinking water and recreational water in NSW. The group discussed the use of copper sulphate by water authorities in SA and Victoria for individual reservoirs. In NSW, however, the EPA does not anticipate that copper sulphate will be approved because it is an option for only a small number of councils. Councils are able to seek registration of copper sulphate individually but the process is by no means guaranteed. Approval of copper sulphate, following registration, would then be for a specific purpose only.

CONCURRENCE GUIDELINES FOR LIQUID TRADE WASTE WORKSHOPS
The Water Directorate's Sewer Subcommittee was actively involved with DLWC in the drafting of the Concurrence Guidelines for Liquid Trade Waste Discharges to the Sewerage System. The first four sections of these Guidelines were released in May 2002 with the final four sections due for release at the end of 2003. The Water Directorate has since contacted DLWC requesting that a high priority be given to the completion of this document and offering our assistance in resourcing its finalisation.

Currently, four one day workshops are being held in regional NSW: Dubbo on 29 July, Bathurst on 31 July, Wagga Wagga on 6 August and Lismore on 15 August 2002. For more information about the Concurrence Guidelines contact Keith Bancroft, Trade Waste Coordinator, DLWC on (02) 9895 5983.

AWA NSW BRANCH HEADS OF WATER 2002 CONFERENCE, 22-23 AUGUST 2002
State Ministers John Aquilina and Kim Yeadon, Federal Minister Dr Sharman Stone and Shadow Minister Kelvin Thomson will be attending the AWA NSW Branch HEADS of WATER 2002. The official cocktail reception will be held on 22 August 2002, followed by an Open Forum on 23 August 2002. The Conference is an opportunity to address critical topics such as Fire, Terrorism and Private Participation, in an open forum. The NSW Branch AGM and Gala Awards Dinner will also be held on 23 August 2002. For further information contact Rob Craig on (02) 9495 9914 or by email on rcraig@awa.asn.au.

FLOURIDATION OF PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES
The NSW Department of Health has recently reviewed the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Regulation 1997 and the Code of Practice for the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies. The Regulation and the Code contain important information for councils that provide fluoridated water . The proposed Regulation and Code and the Regulatory Impact Statement are now on exhibition for public comment. All submissions must be received by the NSW Department of Health's Legal and Legislative Services Branch by 5.00 pm on Friday 16 August 2002. The new Regulation and Code are proposed to commence on 1 September 2002.

For copies of the documents and further information, please refer to the NSW Heath website: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/csd/llsb/regulate/. NSW Health supports water fluoridation as an important public health measure and appreciates the efforts of councils that provide fluoridated water.

MEMBERSHIP FEES DUE
Members are reminded that membership fees are now due for the 12 month period from 1/7/02 to 30/6/03. Invoices were sent out at the beginning of July to the General Manager . It is important to make your cheques payable to IPWEA - Water Directorate. Please bring this to the attention of your accounts payable section. Thanks to all the member councils who have already rejoined.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
For further information about membership or any water related issue, please contact Gary Mitchell on (02) 8267 3010, or garymi@bigpond.com or visit the website at http://wd.ipwea.org.au. If you would like any issue to be discussed by the Executive Committee, please contact your local representative or refer it to me. Remaining meeting dates for 2002 are 11 September and 7 November 2002.

For more information contact: